2) How much power should they have across the age groups (coaching staffs, player selection)?

3) Who would be your ideal selection?

4) Who can we actually get?

Know Nothing

Post #2

Thursday October 5, 2017 3:46pm

Joined Jan 2013
Total Posts: 1,275

for me...

1) good communication skills first and foremost followed by tactical acumen

2) a lot since this is a 4 year journey. We have some exciting players U-20 and U-17 that should be factored into the thinking for 2022 so the more control the better for integration purposes.

3) David Wagner - seems to be able to get the most out of his players and have his teams trust. I list him as ideal since his star is rising in the coaching ranks right now and he would want to go to a bigger club before he takes over a NT (unless it is Germany).

4) Big names...well Ancellotti is available but he would be wrong for the job. Not sure if Tuchel would take the position. The DeBoer who got axed from Crystal palace may be interesting.

Rey Regicide

Post #3

Thursday October 5, 2017 4:05pm

Joined Sep 2013
Total Posts: 1,978

1) Ferguson is the type to not have reputedly much background in tactics, but his man management is legendary.

I didn't think that this was a sign of strength. That it was more of how the rest of the world gets it wrong and us Americans get it right in our other sports. They have to be purely tacticians. Total war room generals who plan and calculate everything. And everyone like Phil Jackson is a phony. Someone who parades about and preaches "zen" but has someone else carry the clip board.

I'm starting to revisit this stance. I don't think it's necessarily important that he goes Mourinho or Pep on maniacal or evangelical levels of detail. In fact, in the case of such degree of minutia it might in fact be possible, if you are unable to communicate this properly that you'll never get the system off the ground.

2) Truthfully, in theory, none. The idea of someone controlling everything almost goes against having soemoen who would be high resolution on the pitch. You expect him to be a total micromanager in the under levels AND tell the central defensive midfielder where he should be on attacks? That's ALOT of time that national team managers don't have.

3)Wagner seems good. If he wants it, he should have it.

4)I don't think Wagner would be out of the realm. And I think the money thing isn't as big of an issue as it seems as money seems to come out of nowhere whenever it's required. And also, capitalism and subsequent capitalists. If you don't have the money today, you strike partnerships or reach out for securities and hope you bottom line gets taken care of with the increasing MLS money year by year..Oh and also hope that you don't get taken for a ride by stakeholders share holders demands.

"back then, we couldn't buy you guys coffee.." - Bruce Arena

mmeeCulver City, CA

Post #4

Thursday October 5, 2017 11:54pm

Joined Mar 2014
Total Posts: 2,146

1) Thinking about our coaches since WC 2014, I'd answer:
1st: tactical acumen (thanks, Know Nothing)
2nd: values a player's last six months of form and playing time more than JK or BA do, and is more daring at integrating new players (tactical acumen is important for this, though). IF you do this, you don't grind yourself into positions like we're in now, where we don't even know who to call in for like 6 months of critical games. You also don't get a 1% change when you're asking for a 10% change ("pass more ambitiously, Michael!", "more runs, Jozy!") because they know they'll lose their spot.
3rd: giant-killer mentality, and more bite even if that means more cards
Everything else I want is a result of those three things

2) I don't know, but I hope there's an emphasis on well-rounded players

3 & 4 IDK, but I am tempted to say "any American who played in Europe and has anything going on in the coaching department"
Wagner? Cherundolo?
After that, there are probably a mess of CONCACAF club or former int'l coaches that I'd be ok with.
I would be worried about anyone else fitting the job, to be honest; real worried.

EKneezyAtlanta

Post #5

Friday October 6, 2017 12:01am

Joined May 2013
Total Posts: 2,951

Wagner would be cool but Id also love if he sticks around in the Prem for a while. However Prem results are fickle and they could be in trouble if the results dont go their way especially in the holiday season where the games come 3 times a week. However Huddersfield look solid so far so I hope that continues.

Id expect the next manager to be Ramos or Vermes or Berhalter. Someone relatively safe.

Itd never happen but Simeone would be my choice. Does the most with the least in La Liga( compared to Barca and Real of course). Tactically hes one of the best in the world.

Berhalter was a good idea in the past, on paper. Unfortunately he's not panning out.

For me I'd group it in 3 ways and compare:
Group 1: Wagner, Cherundolo (seriously, I think Cherundolo would be worth the insane risk)
Group 2: like 8-10 likely suspects with CONCACAF ties including Ramos, Vermes, Vieira, Vanney, Porter, etc etc and I might include Pinto since he's Colombian
Group 3: best tactical giant-killer coach available with no CONCACAF ties but with the right mindset for coaching the US. You guys tell me who goes in this group 3
edit: sounds like Simeone is one

Then I'd compare my best candidates in each group.

In a different world, I might also include ex-coaches of Mex or CR who are Mexican or Costa Rican.

Dave

Post #7

Friday October 6, 2017 2:51am

Joined Jul 2014
Total Posts: 833

The way I see it JK was hired to be an architect of US Soccer and provide legitimacy to the program outside of the US. When results stopped going our way, he was canned. Bruce was hired to right the ship because of his history within the program, and his familiarity with MLS Players. I can't fault the thought process, but I can fault the choice.

1) What qualities do you want in a coach?
The next coach needs to be able to pick up where JK initially was leading us. Pushing players to challenge themselves and integrating young talent. If the manager isn't a tactician than he needs to have one as his 1st Assistant....like JK had Lowe in Germany. JK wasn't a tactical coach and neither is Arena, really.

2) How much power should they have across the age groups (coaching staffs, player selection)?
Over their own coaching staff they should have 100% authority. Over player selections for the Sr. National Team they should have 100% authority. As for youth programs they should be consulted (30-50% authority) about head coaching selection in order to at least try and have a clear pathway from the youth teams to the Sr. team.

3) Who would be your ideal selection?
Lowe, Wagner, or Pinto

4) Who can we actually get?
Vermes or Porter is who I think we'll get. So long as Sunil Gulati is still the president of USSF he'll continue to make coaching selections based on who he can control.

Whoever does become the next manager, on DAY 1, needs to clean house. They need to ID a group of 25 players within the age range who'll be able to represent in the 2022 WC. Cutting away all the players who'll be too old...Howard, Guzan, Cameron, Besler, Gonzalez, Bradley, Fabian, Dempsey....and build a team around what will likely be the CORE....Brooks, CCV, EPB, Miazga, Yedlin, Gonzalez, McKennie, Pulisic, Wood. They & We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes JK & Bruce have done this cycle, continuing to call in players past their sell by dates (Rimando, JJ, Bedoya, Wondo, McCarty, Beasley, etc...).

Dave

Post #8

Friday October 6, 2017 2:57am

Joined Jul 2014
Total Posts: 833

BTW a very good article over on "American Soccer Now" about the lost generation of US players. Was a nice summary of how we've gotten to where we are now.

chris_thebassplayerSan Jose

Post #9

Friday October 6, 2017 4:07am

Joined May 2013
Total Posts: 1,343

I'll venture to guess the next coach will be Vermes.

I have no doubt we will have a big time coach for the 2026 WC

The team wide talent and skill level available will finally be sufficient to have a high end coach...I think the coach in 2026 will be Pep.

By that point, I think it will be an intriguing challenge for the top coaches to see who will be the first coach to actually get the USA to play real ball.

EKneezyAtlanta

Post #10

Friday October 6, 2017 8:06pm

Joined May 2013
Total Posts: 2,951

OOOO i forgot about Cherundolo. I wonder down the road if the chance was there would he take it?

I'd say yes but Hannover is a good spot for him right now.

mmeeCulver City, CA

Post #11

Saturday October 7, 2017 12:09am

Joined Mar 2014
Total Posts: 2,146

Oh, I mean I'm wrong about just going with Cherundolo before he's coached a senior team. I'm just talking with my heart, there.
Down the road, I mean his ceiling is really high as a coach, I suspect.

Chance2badCincinnati, OH

Post #12

Saturday October 7, 2017 6:32am

Joined Jun 2017
Total Posts: 39

1) I think it's imperative to have a serious tactician, if we ever want to compete with the big boys, tactics will take a front and center stage when we're at a talent deficit (think Argentina and Columbia in Copa America.) Second I want a coach who isn't afraid to bring in fresh blood to let the older players know no position is safe. Bruce is the absolute worst at this, if you were good for him sometime in the last decade you probably have a roster spot. I also want a manager with connections over seas that will push our better players to move across the pond and push to reach their full potential. That was a strong point of JK, Arena not so much.

2) The next manager should get 100% control over the senior national team staff and roster. I also think it's important they have some influence on selections for lower level coaches because you want people you know and trust working in the development side. Other than that I'd say an advisory role in the other stuff but someone else needs to be in charge, JK had too much power. Think MLB, we need a manager, and a general manager to oversee the lower levels.

3&4) I don't know about these two, Wagner sounds good, I've always had a wishful eye towards big time names. I love what Kante did with Italy and Chelsea. I do have a fear of hiring someone with too many MLS ties though. Like I said before I want a coach who will push the better players to go overseas, I'm afraid coaches too closely tied to MLS might not do that, I could be wrong but it's a fear. This also needs to be an organizational philosophy. College ruins a lot of our players because while they're taking classes and worrying about Chemistry the Europeans are already professionals and developing at a much faster pace. Players like Sergent and Weah need to continue to get to Europe in their mid to late teens. MLS academies are starting to do this as well but still not at the level of major European leagues.

dolcem

Post #13

Sunday October 8, 2017 6:50am

Joined Nov 2012
Total Posts: 1,777

Ancelotti? Guardiola? Conte? Are you guys high? No manager anywhere near their stature has ever come to manage in CONCACAF. It's not going to happen. For a million reasons. Managing a national team is less prestigious than managing a club team, for one. There are few world class managers in charge of national teams at the moment. And this is CONCACAF we're talking about. There are very few competitive matches, the Gold Cup is a joke compared to the Euros, and if the team had a bad World Cup, not only would four years have gone down the drain, the manager in question could seriously damage his credibility. I've seen people on message boards make similar recommendations (Mourinho, Pep, etc.), and it makes me think that this contributed to a lot of the vitriol towards Klinsmann.

Wagner is too early in his career to manage us. He'll try and stick it out in Europe to see how high he goes (wish more of our players had that attitude). Looking forward to him taking over some day. The same goes for Cherundolo. Let him be the first American manager to succeed abroad before we bring him back home. There's no reason for him to step off the ladder he's on.

I think we should go for Brendan Rogers. He's a possibility and he has gotten British teams to play quality soccer. He'd be a perfect fit. Osorio would be good as well as he's a good manager with MLS experience.

But with this whole USWNT lawsuit, I'm sure we'll just go for Vermes. God I hope it's not Sigi Schmid or Caleb Porter. I'd like to see Berhalter but I think he better try and see if he can make it in Europe (go to a second division somewhere and see what happens).

GET A CLUB TEAM

mmeeCulver City, CA

Post #14

Sunday October 8, 2017 9:52am

Joined Mar 2014
Total Posts: 2,146

It can't be Schmid. Even Gulati is smarter than that.
I'd pick Porter over Berhalter, but I'd prefer neither.
Rogers or Osorio would be good.

I was kinda joking when I said Cherundolo, like *I* would gamble on it, but it wasn't a serious suggestion. Maybe in about 6 years?

dolcem

Post #15

Sunday October 8, 2017 9:27pm

Joined Nov 2012
Total Posts: 1,777

Original post from mmee

It can't be Schmid. Even Gulati is smarter than that.
I'd pick Porter over Berhalter, but I'd prefer neither.
Rogers or Osorio would be good.

I was kinda joking when I said Cherundolo, like *I* would gamble on it, but it wasn't a serious suggestion. Maybe in about 6 years?

Yeah I know. But I think it'll be at least until the 2026 cycle. Let him see what his ceiling is in Europe before he starts with the NT. He might even still be a couple years before he becomes a manager.

Disagree about Porter and Berhalter though. Last time Porter was involved with the NT setup it was an absolute debacle. Managing in the MLS and managing at the international level are two whole different ballgames, and it's not like the Timbers have lit it up in the CCL.

Berhalter is one of the tiny few in our coaching pool who has actually played soccer abroad (he has learned about the game from the best). He has a very good record for how low-budget Columbus is, and while he never got a suitable replacement for Kamara, I bet he'll turn things around in a year or two if they get a good DP or two. Most importantly, the Crew have been the only MLS team I've ever seen that actually played attractive soccer (except for Atlanta this year). I think he gets the technical aspect of the game better than his peers (most likely because of his time abroad). Style of play is almost as important as the results. I hope he tries to manage in Europe. I think he could make it there. I know his last stint there didn't end well but it was his first job and he is much more experienced now.

Other than Berhalter, Vermes would be my top MLS choice. But it's a sad state of affairs when the most powerful nation in the world can't even hire a semi-elite manager.

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